In the aftermath of that race, one of the craziest things is the polar opposite reaction from these boards vs the comments on Instagram posts about the race and YouTube comments. Every comment on social is about the heartbreak for Athing and talking about how unfair it is but LetsRun brought out the confetti and fireworks. I honestly feel bad for Nia Akins because she killed her race and it felt like her whole celebration got crosscut with Athing in tears heading down the tunnel.
People are easily identified on other social media platforms so people hold back to what they really feel. Lets run in most cases you will hear how people really feel. Lets face it humanity is not kind if they are given the opportunity to be honest. People here don't hold back.
There is absolutely no good reason to sugarcoat the accountability part. Mu and coach fkd up and as a result the US likely won't medal in that event and a few other excellent runners were put out of contention. Thats not vicious or mean spirited. Won't help her to pretend she was wronged here or to try to sweep the whole experience under the rug. Face reality and use this is an opportunity to reassess your motivation to stay in the sport and what you need to work on to change. Asking for reruns is the dumbest thing I've seen in a while. And you wanna go model, good luck!
Racing is racing. Poop happens. It's happened to all of us. Of course it sucks but you can't stop the world and re-do everything in your life that doesn't go your way. That's not how life works. Sports have finality and limits. That's why it's so stressful and so very few make it to the top levels.
I downvoted the OP. I don't follow IG or twitter, but I'm active on other running and track-related social media and LR isn't the only place where people are being forthright on this matter. She wasn't prepared, paid a price, and knocked some other athletes out of contention.
So why don't you stop patting yourselves on the back and congratulate those who did make it.
As for Mu, I'd like to see her step up and compete again, I mean really compete at Diamond League, GP Series, or the forthcoming Grand Slam as well as championships, but not counting on it.
As for Mu, I'd like to see her step up and compete again, I mean really compete at Diamond League, GP Series, or the forthcoming Grand Slam as well as championships, but not counting on it.
This gets into a topic that has been broached on here before, but to be succinct, Mu for all accounts and appearances, doesn't seem to "love" her sport.
Don't get me wrong, I think she loves what the sport has afforded her, fame, glory, admiration, other outside opportunities, etc, but if you really look at her, she has never given off the strong "I live everyday to get up and be a part of this sport" vibe. It's more like, tears notwithstanding from the fall, meh for the past 2-3 years, and that is not what people expect of a 100 year talent like that. There really seems to be a "taking for granted" approach here.
It almost makes her seem unappreciative of who and what she is, a 22 year old who runs :49/1:54, that should be our first biological woman to break 1:52. I really do believe she is that good, but the x factor is her attitude/mental approach. No coach can develop the true passion that drives an athlete to do the amazing, generational performances that she is capable of.
We've all seen it before with US track and field talent, and it begs the question, is she too talented, and did all the success and accolades from the previous 8 years stifle the development of her inner drive? The one you get from being knocked down time and time again. Not only do I think she has never been knocked down, she can't take a proverbial punch, gut or otherwise.
There are people in the Trials that would kill to have what she has under the hood and who have worked much harder just to even be able to toe the line with her in the same meet. They will never sniff a medal, and yet there they are, some of them actually earning their Team kit and moving on to the next level this year while she sits at home.
I feel sorry for her, but not as much as I would if I thought she had what we used to call "paid her dues." There are so many fine runners out there who keep coming back, race after race, putting in the effort and taking the same risks of losing, falling, failing and rising back up! Shes young, she can still go the distance and pay up like evrybody else.
I read some comments on YouTube where people said someone stepped on her shoe, but I saw others correcting to state what really happened. it seems like because she was a previous champion, some people here and elsewhere feel she is entitled to special treatment and possibly a spot without earning it (this year). I don’t think that is fair at all to the other athletes. I am most surprised by Rojo for supporting the victim mentality (not taking responsibility for one’s own actions). Yes it’s a horrible outcome for Mu, but that’s part of sports.
The old bastards at TFN are bickering about it like LRC posters and accusing each other of racism or playing the race card. So much for the more sophisticated forum with everyone registered.
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